Reeling apparatus



Dec. 18, 1934 w. E MOUGEY REELING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1933 \l N INVENTOR WEMOUGEV A T TORNE Y Patented Dec. 18, 1934 U TE -STA P Te-Nr OFFICE REELING Am -Anni.us;l Wilbur E. Mougey, Cranford, N J assignor t'o Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y a corporation of New York I Application-August 23, 1933, Serial No. 686,407

'13 Claimslf 11. 1175-18) This invention relates toreeling apparatus and more particularly to a device for holding apair of supply reels from which two strandsmay be drawn off. under conditions of equal tension.

An object of the invention'is to draw off I a pair of strands from two supply reels under conditions of equal'tensiorn I H Another object is to draw off "from separate supply reels a pair of strands which'are equal in length. l

Anotherobject isto provide equal lengths of wires in-a twisted pair. I

A further objects toimprove the electrical and mechanical properties of telephone cable.

A feature of the invention is a reeling device comprisingtwo moving parts adapted to rotate in opposite directions, with acommon friction surface and two or more individual bearings which have as little friction as possible.

The conductors intelephone cable are usually associated in pairs,each pair consisting of two insulated wires twisted together. For electrical and mechanical reasons, it is desirable that the two strands forming a pair should be as nearly equal in length as is reasonablypossible. One of the causes of inequality in length is unequal tensions in the two wires as the twist is being formed. Thisinequality. in-tensionis, in turn, partly caused by diiferencesin the retarding frictional forces acting on the bearingsof the two supply reels from which-the two wires are drawn off in thegtwisting process. 'Another cause is the difference in the radii'of the turns of wire --as they leave'the reels. This lattercause of inequality can be practically eliminated by using reels havingthe same diameter of drumand by carefully 1 winding the material onto the reels. In the. present "state of 'the art; when it'isdefsired to twisttw'o strands from separate reels under conditions of equal tension, the retarding frictional forces eifective'upon the two reels are independent of each other. They maybe independently adjusted to be equal but there are no positivemeans of maintaining equality even if it is once obtained; 1% l In accordance with the present invention, this inequality in the-tensions in the two strands "which are being'twisted together'to form a pair T may be reduced to any desired extent. In order to accomplish this, there is provided a special typeof arbor for holdingthetwo .supply reels.

The "arbor comprises two 1 moving parts, which rotate in'opposite directions, with one, common friction surface and separate bearings in which the friction has been reduced to a minimum. HA

byithe arrows 16,. 17. Now, if part 11 of the arbor be rotated in one direction, the friction in the common bearing 13 tends to rotate part force-required to 'holdor turn the latter will reel is rigidly mounted on each of the moving partsand, since substantially all of the frictional resistance to motion occurs in the common frictionv surface, the retarding forces acting upon the two reels .will thus be maintained equal under all. conditions. As a result, the tensions in the two wires as they are drawn off from the two reels will also'be kept equal, if the radii of the turns as 'theyleavethe. two reels are equal at all times. .In this way, wires of equal length may be drawn off simultaneously from two separate supply treelsiand formed into a twisted pair, if

desired.

The nature of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description'and by reference: to thev accompanying drawing,:of which:. I; r t

Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly inseotion, .of a reeling device embodying one form ofxthe invention; and 5 t Fig. 2.illustrates diagrammatically howthe device shown in :machine.

Fig. 1 may be used in a twisting Asshown-in the drawing, the device .comprises two moving parts 11, 12, having common .2

"(friction surfaces 13 and individual end bearings 14; ;15.1 .Theinner end of part 12 is in theform of a spindle '29 which extends into the sleeve portion 30 of part 11, with=enough clearance therebetween to allow for the two sets of annular. bearings 13, which may be spaced apart as shown. inv the drawing. Self-aligning rol1er bearings areprovided for'the end bearings 14,

'15 in order to reduce thefriction atthese points 'tofa minimum; The 'commonbearing .13, be-. Ling ofthe plain annular type, furnishes practically the entire frictional resistance .to motion when thetwo parts 11, 12 of the arbor are rotated in opposite directions, as indicated 12 in the same direction, and if part 12 be held fast or turned in the oppositedirection, the

be exactly equal to the force required to hold or turn part 11. By increasing or decreasing the friction between the contacting parts of the common bearing 13 the magnitude of the force retarding the motion of the two rotating parts of the arbor may be regulated as desired.

The ball bearing 18 is provided to take care of any thrust which may be applied in an axial direction to either part of the arbor. The .fiange 119 is keyed to the outer end of the part .55

11 by means of the key 31, and rotates therewith. A similar flange is keyed to the moving part 12. The roller bearings 14, 15 are placed in their respective housings 22, 23 before the threaded retaining rings 34 are screwed into place. The housings 22, 23 are supported by the yoke 35 which is mounted upon the end of the shaft 36.- The ,entire reeling apparatus may The removed, from the ;yoke 35,;by jtalging' off the four nuts 37 and lifting off the two caps 38.

In order to mount the supply reel on the arbor part 11, the flange 19 and housing 22 are removed, the reel is slid into place an'dthe-parts reassembled. The reel 20, is-keyed.to the moving part 11, and caused tolfriot'atejtherewi'th, means of the pin 33 which projeots;}f;rom .the

flange 19 and engages a hole 24 in one end of the other moving part 12 of the arbor ina sim ilar manner. When constructed as described, the arbor is free to iturn ion :the end bearings 14, -15. If the wire 25 'is dr'awnzoff from the :topmf the re'el fZU- and the awirer26 .i's .drawnwoif ifrom the bottom ef :the reel'zal', :in the .direction shown by the-arrows :27, I28 :the "two ireelswill zbe. caused to rotate ":in i oppositev :directions, rand "conse- 'quently the-two partscll, .1121ofithe arbor will be rotatedin opposite directions. ;Sin"ce.- practically the entire frictio'nal iforce tending toxrejtard the :rotation of the -'.two :reels. .is lfurnished fby =the common' bearing. .13, ltTfOllOWS that the force required to turn Teach reel iWiH -:be *of ithe same magnitude, provided the two reels. are "wound to the sameifulln'ess with wire. Consequently, the two .wiresTwilli-be undertequal utensions as they are drawn. 1 oft af-romzitheir :respective supply reels. In this wa'yua'rpair.iofl'wires having equal lengths :may E be robt'ained.

- Informingva-twis'ted pair, ctwo' reels of rinsulated wire are --placedl.uponJtheriarb'or ;described .ab'oveiandnthe larbor is mounted .inithe ayoke'iof a twisting :machine, ass showntdiagrammatically in Fig. 2. Each of the wires;:25;:l26 passes between -;a .pair .ofi'ridling )1011815139, zfrom which both wires pass 2 through ithe die 40 :and

1 onto .:the :takemp "reel .41, e which is irotated iiby :meanslnot shown:in theidrawing. I'heimotor 42 turns 1' theis'haft :36 :an'cl Ethe yoke. 35, ijforming the :twist :in .a manner well :known \in the art.

If the two insulated .wires'a25, 26 are asimilar in regard to diameter and; stiffness of wire, diameter over :insulation and resistance itO'z'dEfOlXIlfition of insul'ationpand' .iflthe :radii: of the iturns on the two reels:arewe'qual as=.-theyleave::the;:ree1s,

the two ponductorszin cthe ifinished-ip'air iwill :rbe

"equal inl'ength..-' Aftelephone cable madeiupsof twisted pairs formed in. thiswaywill havagreatelectrical and. rmechanical propertiesw Y The r'eelin'g apparatus 1described above ="illus- 1 trates oneembodiment of the? invention, but'arintwo partszrotatable in oppositerdirections, the

' ternative forms falling within itsscope willreadilyoccur toone-skilled in the art.

' "1. A reeling device comprisinganarbora made inner end *of one of-said' parts being hollowed to receivethe inn r end of the other or said parts, means for supporting-said-=arbor with negligible retardation to rotation, and 'acontaicting surface having-3 appreciable friction 'common to saidj two parts; i said contactingsurface :being internal to said hollowed part.

" -2. -An arbor comprising two i parts adapted :to

rotate opposite" directions, tne inner end bf one of said parts being in the form of a sleeve which fits over the end of the other of said parts, bearings having minimum friction for supporting said arbor, and frictional means internal to said sleeve for bringing equal retarding forces to bear upon each of said parts.

3. An arbor comprising two parts rotatable in opposite directions, the end ,ofone ,of said m'fi e e-ho ;low i to rece v at e 9 .2 of the other of said parts, an annular bearing sur- ,;f a c,e having appreciable friction common to said two parts, and a separate bearing having minimum friction for supporting said arbor.

A, reel arbor ,comprising two parts, the ri-end of'goneflofsmd parts being in the form f sne'v inner end of the other of said parts being in the form of a spindle which extends iiito-said sleeve, a plain annular bearing ,between said two parts, and roller bearings at each end of said arbor.

- 15. :LA .reeliarbor comprising 'twoparts, a 211.01- lowed portion of.one1of said parts :fitting sOVQr :the .end 20f ssaid :Othfil apart ito form. Eli 11368171118 suriac'einterzral ato...said hollowed portion, .a thrust fbea ing thew/seesaw pa t and ol -bearings;atzeachnf,fnd; q saidiarborq 1 i 6. An a bo co p i n -twm att lrqta abl in opposite directions. .a sup ee --.mountediin rally. with :each .of said :parts and ro 2 therewith, the inner end of one of said theingsunponted by-said ot er pa take. bearing surface having appreciablev frictign nimQn :tosaid twop a s and .a s pa a e 1 91 bearinglhavins minim m i mfcti awash end rsaid zarbort.

=In saztwistin hine .an (arbo immnri zing .two .;parts adapted to imitate. ingpppsite zdirectionsma :wire filled re vris dl mounted upon eachfl'fifjsa'id par s, ;;th nn.e end e ro sofL-said aparts extending intoa JhQH Wefl-PQIt cofithe other Qffifld parts i ndi r qti ga imam Zinternal to .said hollowed o t on z p exerting aequalrretarding f r e llmnieac' of said parts, whereby two-wire may be raw i fi t am we areels under ,COIrditiQMxQf egual tension.

namdevice :for mountin two supp y ir els {comprisin qtwoimor n pa ts 1 h.? l e -Q .one o said [part .being .in: t .m 19 as e ve, --the: innerzen. .tl ;1.Qthe -9 saidmar being 11mtheiformlrofrassp nd e .whiche end ntms ifl ssleeve,zplain:.annularibearin s between: d spi a-u1e.-;.and :sai'd- ;sle ve, 11a r.i,i an eugon;.- each of] said movingmartscathrus eba hbe rin betwe! sai iflanges, and;ro11e :-.b arine a t achren Q S i :gdev-icer I f .9. .A [device o rsimnlvie two s ands lmil sconditions:ofiequa w.tens ns omnr s na-a e q havin ithloim fi r tat bl inopn ited gqt qa LtWO reels 0f strand n .zma e ia w u d th esamecdegree .cfif-ul nesswm1 mm. ree ke e rmountedrintQgh HY"'w thifi fih o ss s ,ana isl th innericn afl on iz saidm rtsbe ne l he iqrm 2;.0fa3..sleelleirwmfi r5141 1 1111 thefind ofis s the --:1part,. bearin s harms zin ea kmwble' i ri tion for supporting said arbor, ,and trictional meansnintemalitolsaidis1eeweo r ig eq iriretardingrfo iflfi up n-each: ysai a b parts.

no. In :a twistin em chinen e h mem- "xprising two spartssadaptedpto otate 1 in opposit sdirections, flanicalmllll bearin surfa be j ee cvsaid twoz nartss amt endizbearin PPQIF n LiSaid' arbor, the: frictional :ncsistanw to rotation min :nsaid aannular .bearing surface c ein lar comparedgtoz-thei frictional resistance ,of ,end obearingspms 11. Apparatus for supplying two strands having equal lengths comprising an arbor in two parts adapted to rotate in opposite directions, a reel mounted rigidly upon each of said parts, material in the form of strands wound upon each of said reels to the same diameter, bearings having slight friction for supporting said arbor, and an annular bearing surface having appreciable friction common to said two parts.

12. A reeling device comprising two parts rotatable in opposite directions, a reel rigidly associated with each of said parts, each of said reels being wound to the same degree of fullness with stranding material, bearings having as little friction as possible for supporting said two parts, and a plain annular bearing between said two parts, whereby a strand may be drawn off from each of said reels under conditions of equal tension.

13. A machine for forming a twisted pair comprising an arbor made in two parts rotatable in opposite directions, the inner end of one of said parts being hollowed to receive and support the end of the other of said parts, a reel integrally mounted upon each of said two parts, material in the form of strands wound upon each of said reels to the same degree of fullness, means offering minimum retardation to rotation for mounting said arbor in a yoke, means for rotating said yoke, idling rollers for guiding said strands as they are drawn off from said reels, a die through which said strands pass, a take-up reel upon which said twisted pair is wound, and means internal to said hollowed part for applying a retarding frictional force which is common to the two parts of said arbor, whereby the lengths of the strands in said twisted pair are made equal.

WILBUR E. MOUGEY. 

